Alzheimer’s Association® National Capital Area Chapter Selects Allison & Partners as Public Relations Agency of Record for New Women’s Initiative

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Allison & Partners, a leading mid-size public relations and public affairs firm, has been selected as public relations agency of record for the Alzheimer’s Association National Capital Area Chapter’s new women’s initiative – a series of outreach and events to connect women who share the vision of a world without Alzheimer's.

“That’s why it was a natural decision to work alongside the Alzheimer’s Association National Capital Area Chapter to encourage women across the region to come together, share their stories, and inspire their friends and families to get more involved.”

With approximately 80,000 residents living with dementia in Washington, D.C., suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia, the Alzheimer’s Association National Capital Area Chapter will seek to engage 5,000 community-minded women over the next three years to help raise awareness of the disease and the resources available to families and caregivers in the region. Allison & Partners’ Washington, D.C. office will support the organization’s marketing and publicity activities, helping to raise awareness of the disease as well as the counseling and support the Alzheimer’s Association provides. The agencies will collaborate on a multi-tiered communications strategy that will include traditional, online and social media, community outreach and networking events, including the grand event – the Women’s Initiative Luncheon on May 3, 2011.

“Alzheimer’s has touched many families across our agency, including my own,” says Karyn Barr Amin, vice president of Allison & Partners’ Washington, D.C. office. “That’s why it was a natural decision to work alongside the Alzheimer’s Association National Capital Area Chapter to encourage women across the region to come together, share their stories, and inspire their friends and families to get more involved.”

Cindy Schelhorn, director of communications for the Alzheimer’s Association, National Capital Area Chapter added, “Our women’s initiative is about bringing women together to help push awareness of Alzheimer’s to the forefront of America’s consciousness. The team at Allison & Partners shares that commitment both on a personal and professional level. We are honored to work alongside Allison & Partners on this exciting new initiative and look forward to harnessing passions and goals with like-minded women in the D.C.-metro area to help us achieve our vision of a world without Alzheimer’s disease.”

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States, killing more than diabetes and more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. Alzheimer’s is the only top 10 cause of death without a way to prevent, cure or even slow its progression. One of six women is at risk for developing Alzheimer’s in their lifetime, compared to one in 10 men. In addition, more women take on the role as primary caregiver to affected loved ones and in some cases, tend to more than one family member. For more information on the Alzheimer’s Association National Capital Area Chapter’s women’s initiative, please go to www.alz.org/nca.

About Allison & Partners

Allison & Partners (www.allisonpr.com, http://facebook.com/allisonpr, http://twitter.com/allisonpr) is a national communications firm named an 'Agency of the Year' by The Holmes Report and an honorable mention for Mid-Sized Agency of the Year by PR Week. With practice areas in consumer marketing, corporate communications social impact, technology, public affairs and healthcare, the firm builds customized programs integrating media relations, social media, cause-related marketing, sustainability communications, executive branding, customer and employee communications and promotional services. Allison & Partners is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Phoenix, San Diego and Seattle, with a 50-state grassroots network. As an MDC Partners company (NASDAQ: MDCA, Toronto Stock Exchange: MDZ.A), the agency has deep affiliations with best-of-class marketing communications firms worldwide.

About the Alzheimer’s Association

The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Since 1980, the Alzheimer's Association has been providing information, education and support to those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and their families and caregivers.

As part of a nationwide network of chapters, the Alzheimer's Association National Capital Area Chapter serves Northern Virginia, Suburban and Southern Maryland, and the District of Columbia.

Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. For more information, visit www.alz.org or call 800.272.3900.